OneStepCloser
A Campaign for Hope & Healthy Families
Supporting Families with
Healthcare, Housing & Education
Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare for themselves and their families. Washington, DC is a city with vibrant neighborhoods, a rich history, and a unique place as the nation’s capital. Like many cities, it also has its challenges. One significant concern is the poor health of its residents. is is particularly true east of the Anacostia River in Ward 8. Ward 8 residents have the worst health outcomes in the District of Columbia in areas such as deaths from hypertension and diabetes, infant mortality, teen pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS. One reason is lack of access to healthcare. Access means having a doctor near where you live or work, who accepts your insurance, and is available for an appointment when you need one. Without access, many people wait until it’s too late and end up in the emergency room. One in five DC residents do not have a regular doctor. Community of Hope, a highly effective nonprofit whose mission is to support low-income and homeless families in the city with healthcare, housing, and other support services, will be a catalyst for change in Ward 8. e goal: to move the community one step closer to a brighter, healthier future with the establishment of a new Health and Resource Center. To achieve that goal, we need your help.
Supporting Families with
Healthcare, Housing & Education
The health statistics about Ward 8 are dire. But that’s about to change. Ward 8 residents are predominantly African American; lack of access to primary healthcare disproportionately affects African American residents. More than 35 percent of Ward 8’s residents live at or below the poverty level. According to a recent RAND study, in Ward 8: • rates of death from diabetes and heart disease are double the rate in other parts of the city • 40 percent of pregnant women receive inadequate or no prenatal care • infant mortality is the highest in the city • the death rate from HIV/AIDS is 16 times the national average Low-income and homeless families face challenges with things that many of us take for granted: access to transportation, nutritious food options for their family, safe housing. New research shows that high levels of stress early in life produce physiological changes that contribute to depression, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. When a family’s primary focus is survival, healthcare is sacrificed. Mrs. Green, one Community of Hope single mother, summed it up this way: “I have five children. Trying to get them ready in the morning, make the bus, and get them across town to make a doctor’s appointment is really hard. Sometimes I don’t have enough money for the bus fare. Not having a doctor close to me is really, really tough.” Community health centers serve as an anchor of primary care for many low-income people. at’s why Community of Hope’s new Health and Resource Center is so critical. It will offer people like Mrs. Green and her family the resources they need to improve the quality of their lives. Why should this matter to people who don’t live in Ward 8? “It costs all of us more as a community and a nation when our neighbors develop chronic illnesses and can’t care for their families,” Community of Hope Executive Director Kelly Sweeney McShane says. “Prevention stabilizes families and creates safer communities.”
Creating a lifeline for families across the city
Girard Street Apartments Marie Reed Health Center
Administrative Offices
1 2 3
Northeast 4
Family Health and Birth Center
Southwest
Southeast 5 6 7 Ward 8
Hope Apartments
Mississippi Avenue Apartments
Health and Resource Center, 4 Atlantic Street, SW
The statistics don’t tell the whole story. Many families call Ward 8 home. î “ere are single-family homes, green parks, and a tennis center. Ward 8 is home to Bolling Anacostia Joint Naval Base and the Naval Research Laboratory. Yet the community currently lacks adequate access to the health services it needs.
Community of Hope has been actively expanding its services where the need is greatest. Give now to bring us one step closer: (202) 407-7780. A Campaign for Hope & Healthy Families
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One Step Closer to quality care that puts clients first Community of Hope is always concerned about providing the highest quality healthcare. But we are equally concerned with treating all people who come through our doors with respect. In a city where homeless and low-income people are often invisible, Community of Hope’s philosophy is “I see you. I care about you. You matter.” Wynetta* came to Community of Hope after she and her young children left her abusive husband. She became homeless and Community of Hope helped her family find permanent housing. During a medical check-up at Community of Hope, Wynetta was asked when she had last seen a dentist, and it was then that her story emerged. She admitted that her husband had hit her and knocked out her front teeth. She had gone to three other health centers; the estimates were too high for her to afford reconstructive dental work. “It was clear how much her appearance impacted her sense of self,” said Assata Tafari, Community of Hope’s Wellness Coordinator, who works closely with clients as a facilitator and advocate. “She wouldn’t smile and rarely spoke.” Wynetta was interviewing for jobs, and it was possible that her appearance and lack of self esteem prevented her from being hired. Wynetta saw Community of Hope’s dentist, and her prayers were answered. e dental team said that they would be able to replace her teeth on a sliding scale, based on her salary when she got a job. “You could see such a big sense of relief, a sense of hopefulness,” said Tafari. Community of Hope’s medical team’s action was more than a medical transaction, more than simply the replacement of teeth. It was an act of grace that restored dignity and transformed a life. * Name changed to protect the client’s confidentiality
“e scale of what you are doing and the location in Ward 8 will definitely have a significant impact on families’ lives.” — Dionne Brown, ANC Commissioner for Ward 8
Community of Hope’s Executive Director Kelly Sweeney McShane, left, visits our Marie Reed Health Center in Adams Morgan.
Community of Hope = Quality. Leadership. Integrity. Reach. Accomplishments. With its proven track record of accomplishments and its thoughtful preparation for growth, Community of Hope is the right organization to bring a Health and Resource Center to Ward 8. •
e organization has developed a highly successful model for improving the health and quality of life for low-income, homeless and underserved families and individuals. e family-centered model integrates healthcare, housing, and supportive services.
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e Marie Reed Health Center has provided more than 13,000 medical, dental and mental healthcare visits per year to more than 3,600 clients.
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A recent client survey showed that 98 percent of medical patients and 92 percent of dental patients would recommend Community of Hope to their family and friends.
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Community of Hope is a Federally Qualified Health Center. We follow rigorous reporting standards and provide services to all people regardless of their ability to pay.
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e Catalogue for Philanthropy 2011-2012 recognized Community of Hope for its excellence as one of the region’s highly effective and well managed organizations.
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Community of Hope has successfully navigated significant growth in the last five years, building up its staff and creating strong financial accountability.
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Community of Hope already has a presence in Ward 8. More than 80 percent of our housing program clients live in Ward 8. Community of Hope is proactively reaching out to community members in advance of the facility's opening with a health fair, engagement with local congregations, and public meetings.
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Executive Director Kelly Sweeney McShane was the recipient of the 2009 Meyer Foundation Exponent Award for her visionary nonprofit leadership.
Give now to bring us one step closer: (202) 407-7780.
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Laura Worby and Sukera Cooper
Residents of Ward 8 can now look forward to the kind of special attention and care that Sukera Cooper has benefitted from at Commmunity of Hope’s Marie Reed Health Center.
Sukera Cooper has been coming to Community of Hope’s Marie Reed Health Center for fifteen years, since she was eight years old. Her mom was the first to use the health center; now it’s a family affair. Over the years she has become particularly close to family nurse practitioner Laura Worby. Laura not only treated Sukera’s medical needs, she become a trusted mentor. “e people who work here don’t just see patients,” Sukera says. “ey make sure that you are okay after the fact. When you come back, they speak to you about other things besides your health. ey become your friends.” Inspired by Laura’s care over the years, Sukera Cooper is pursuing a career as a nurse and continues to get career advice from her mentor. Laura has recommended her to serve as a board member for Community of Hope. Sukera is excited to be giving back to a health center that continues to play such an important part in her life and is equally enthusiastic that families in Ward 8 will now have a neighborhood primary care facility in their own backyard.
“What better place to give money to than an organization that is providing housing assistance and healthcare? It’s a no brainer. I want to give to Community of Hope so that they continue the great things that they do.” — Client Sukera Cooper
Laura Worby has been a family nurse practitioner at Community of Hope for twelve years. She knows first hand that quality care and acts of kindness sustain families and keep them connected to Community of Hope. “We see people for many, many years,” she says. “We have had many loyal families and have treated grandparents, parents, teens, newborns. It’s wonderful to see people through the whole life span.” Worby knows that quality of care is paramount. But she recognizes that Community of Hope offers something that is often missing in the lives of the low-income people that they deserve: respect. “We treat each person who walks through the door with a lot of warmth and caring. We know peoples’ names and their families. So many of our clients have not been treated well in interactions with other official institutions. People are happy to come to us; hopefully it helps them take better care of themselves and their families.”
“e most rewarding thing about my work is not only treating clients’ medical issues but giving them the tools to take more control of their lives.” — Laura Worby Give now to bring us one step closer: (202) 407-7780.
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Caption: Eweoiruqoriu icuapiua ciuapeiru iucpaiuwe riujadsfiopi ucaioue oiupciaupeipc
A dream becomes a reality:
Inside Community of Hope’s Health and Resource Center Community of Hope’s new Health and Resource Center is anticipated to open at the end of 2012, with groundbreaking in Fall of 2011.
e 50,000-square-foot Center will be located across the street from a newly-renovated library. It will be surrounded by stores, offices, and residential units, bringing a sense of vitality and an economic boost to the community. One of the first new health centers in Ward 8 in decades, this LEED Silver Certified building will provide medical, dental, and behavioral health services, social services, and wellness education. Electronic health records will improve the ability to diagnose, treat, and follow-up with clients.
Visitor Experience Visitors will be greeted by staff at the welcome center and guided to the resources they need, such as assistance in obtaining insurance or referrals for social services.
First Floor Offering educational opportunities will be a priority at the Center. Addressing the social and economic factors that affect patients’ health is critical for patient success. Classes on prenatal health, yoga, nutrition, and life skills on subjects like budgeting or chronic disease management will be offered.
Interior View
View from Entry
Open Work Area
At full capacity, this new facility is expected to provide:
22,000 15,000 3,500 medical visits
The new Health & Resource Center will have the following services: primary care, mental healthcare, dental, chronic disease management, prenatal, pediatric, prevention and education, wellness, enrollment for social services, and Community of Hope administration and social services staff for some of our housing programs.
dental visits
behavioral health visits
Health/Dental Services e Health and Resource Center will create a welcoming environment with 18 patient examining rooms, a lab, and procedure rooms. Dental services, which will be found on a separate floor, will include cleaning, xrays, fillings and dentures.
Counseling Mental and behavioral health services are an important component of overall health. Community of Hope’s new facility will offer inviting, well-lit rooms for individual, child, and family counseling to create safe spaces for confidential discussions.
Social Services: Linking Housing Programs To Health Since a majority of Community of Hope’s housing clients live in Wards 7 and 8, bringing the support services they need for healthcare, educational services, and other resources all under one roof will have a significant positive impact on their lives.
Administrative Offices Community of Hope administration will maintain daily operations on the fourth floor.
Give now to bring us one step closer: (202) 407-7780.
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How do we make a community feel hopeful? We let them know people care. We treat them with respect and show them a future. We open our doors and provide them with the highest quality care possible. We help stabilize them with the support services and resources they need. Your gift will provide the critical capital needed for Community of Hope to finish renovations, to buy equipment, to begin its operations, to hire sta, and to be prepared for the anticipated and unanticipated costs associated with the start-up of a new facility.
Give now to bring us one step closer to a brighter future for families in Ward 8.
25 million -$22 million
Funding for Community of Hope’s new Health and Resource Center is well on its way, with $22 million of the $25 million needed already committed through the generous support of the DC Primary Care Association, the DC Department of Health, and the federal government.
$
total
committed
3 million
$
needed to reach our goal
Your contributions and support, will bring us one step closer to:
22
Exam Rooms
6
Mental Health/ Therapy Rooms
11
Dental Chairs
4
Dentists
6
Full-Time Doctors and Nurse Practitioners
6
Community Education Spaces
Conceived, Written and Designed by Open Window Creative Strategies, LLC. Photography by Carol Guzy and Liza Harbison. Printed by Whitmore Group.
Your donation will bring us
to help create a brighter future for families in Ward 8. To contribute, visit www.communityofhopedc.org or call (202) 407-7780.
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Our goals: To bring a Health and Resource Center to one of DC’s most underserved neighborhoods. To provide the highest quality of care. To offer comprehensive support to stabilize and strengthen families. UW#8389; CFC#37854
Supporting Families with
Healthcare, Housing & Education
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW . Suite 805 . Washington, DC 20036 . t: (202) 407-7747 . f: (202) 232-1014 . www.communityofhopedc.org
Serving with Compassion, Integrity, & Respect. Striving for Excellence.
Supporting Families with
Healthcare, Housing & Education
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 805 Washington, DC 20036 t: (202) 407-7747 f: (202) 232-1014 www.communityofhopedc.org